GaCl3-Catalyzed Insertion of Isocyanides into a C−O Bond in Cyclic Ketals and Acetals

Y(OTf)3-catalyzed phosphorylation of 2H-chromene hemiacetals with P(O)-H compounds to 2-phosphorylated 2H-chromenes

A facile synthesis of 2-phosphorylated 2H-chromenes has been accomplished herein via a Y(OTf)₃-catalyzed dehydrative coupling of 2H-chromene hemiacetals with P(O)-H compounds. This protocol features low catalyst loading, mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope and easy elaboration of the products.

Three-Component Iminolactonization Reaction via Bifunctionalization of Olefins Using Molecular Iodine and Visible Light

A novel three-component γ-iminolactonization reaction was developed, which relied on the C-C/C-O bond-forming bifunctionalization of olefins using molecular iodine and visible light. This strategy did not require any (heavy) metal reagents for double-bond activation because molecular iodine acted as a rare-metal-alternative reagent through visible light irradiation. In addition, the preactivation of amines and other substrates is not required. The mechanistic investigation revealed that the generated iodine radicals under visible light irradiation reacted with alkenes to form a highly reactive intermediate; then, the three-component reaction of diiodide, malonate, and amine furnished iminolactone. Of note, the developed reaction is simple and realized the diversity-oriented synthesis innovative methodology of γ-iminolactone derivatives in drug discovery chemistry.

Ytterbium and silver co-catalyzed synthesis of pyrrole-fused bicyclic skeletons from enynones and isocyanides

A cascade reaction of isocyanide and enynone using Yb/Ag cooperative catalysis provided a quick access to structurally complex pyrrole-fused heterocycles.

Bi(OTf)3-catalyzed addition of isocyanides to 2H-chromene acetals: an efficient pathway for accessing 2-carboxamide-2H-chromenes

Bismuth triflate (Bi(OTf)₃) is identified as an efficient catalyst for the direct addition of isocyanides to 2H-chromene acetals. By this synthetic strategy, a polyfunctional molecular scaffold, 2-carboxamide-2H-chromenes could be prepared efficiently in one step with up to 95% yields.

Diverse acetals from stoichiometric amounts of aldehydes and alcohols under very mild conditions: a new twist to PPh3–CCl4 reagent combination

A very mild, stoichiometric PPh₃–CCl₄ method for the preparation of diverse acetals of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes was developed.

A one-pot O-sulfinative Passerini/oxidation reaction: synthesis of α-(sulfonyloxy)amide derivatives

We have developed a one-pot O-sulfinative Passerini/oxidation reaction, in which a combination of an aldehyde, an isocyanide, and a sulfinic acid react, followed by the addition of mCPBA as an oxidant to give the corresponding α-(sulfonyloxy)amides in high yields. This reaction is the first reported demonstration of an isocyanide-based multicomponent reaction using a sulfinic acid in place of a carboxylic acid. A wide range of aldehydes and isocyanides are applicable to this reaction.

Cobalt(ii)/silver relay catalytic isocyanide insertion/cycloaddition cascades: a new access to pyrrolo[2,3-b]indoles

The combination of Co(acac)₂ and AgOTf enables the bimetallic relay catalysis reaction of 2-ethynylanilines and isocyanides, allowing an easy and low-cost access to new densely functionalized pyrrolo[2,3-b]indoles.

A one-pot O-phosphinative Passerini/Pudovik reaction: efficient synthesis of highly functionalized α-(phosphinyloxy)amide derivatives

A one-pot O-phosphinative Passerini/Pudovik reaction has been developed, based on reacting aldehydes, isocyanides, and phosphinic acids followed by the addition of second aldehydes to form the corresponding α-(phosphinyloxy)amide derivatives. This is the first reported instance of a Passerini-type, isocyanide-based multicomponent reaction using a phosphinic acid instead of a carboxylic acid. The nucleophilicity of the phosphinate group allows a subsequent catalytic Pudovik-type reaction, affording the highly functionalized α-(phosphinyloxy)amide derivative in high yield. A wide range of aldehydes and isocyanides are applicable to this reaction.

Carboxylic acid free novel isocyanide-based reactions

In order to develop a practical method for the construction of drug-like and heterocyclic compounds, we have designed a novel Passerini- or Ugi-type reaction system where a compound (which we write in the general form as Z-X) composed of an electrophilic (Z) and a nucleophilic group (X) could essentially perform the same function as the carboxylic acid. Based on this concept, we have developed the O-silylative Passerini reaction and the borinic acid catalyzed α-addition of isocyanides to aldehydes and water. In addition, we have designed and demonstrated the addition reaction of isocyanides to nitrones in the presence of TMSCl to afford the corresponding 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1-carboxyamides. Furthermore, a novel [5 + 1] cycloaddition of isocyanide was explored with C,N-cyclic N'-acyl azomethine imines as a "1,5-dipole" via a strategy involving intramolecular trapping of the isocyanide.

[5+1] cycloaddition of C,N-cyclic N'-acyl azomethine imines with isocyanides

A catalyst-free [5 + 1] cycloaddition reaction between isocyanides and C,N-cyclic N'-acyl azomethine imines as the "isocyanophile" leading to novel heterocycles has been developed. These reactions proceeded quickly and cleanly to afford the corresponding imin-1,3,4-oxadiazin-6-one derivatives in high to excellent yields. A wide range of C,N-cyclic N'-acyl azomethine imines and isocyanides were applicable to this reaction.

Synthesis of 2-boryl- and silylindoles by copper-catalyzed borylative and silylative cyclization of 2-alkenylaryl isocyanides

We have developed a method for the synthesis of 2-borylindoles via the copper(I)-catalyzed borylative cyclization of 2-alkenylphenyl isocyanides using diboronate. The reaction proceeds at room temperature under neutral conditions and exhibits high tolerance to functional groups, such as Br, CO(2)R, COR, CONMe(2), and CN. The 2-borylindoles synthesized in the present study can be elaborated into an array of indole-based derivatives, for example, through the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction. The utility of this method is demonstrated in the rapid synthesis of a kinase inhibitor, paullone. The reaction can be extended to the synthesis of 2-hydride indole and 2-silylindole by using hydroboronate (or hydrosilane) and silylboronate, respectively. Under these copper-catalyzed conditions, a quinoxaline ring system can also be constructed by using 1,2-isocyanobenzene as a substrate.

Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Formal Insertion of Isocyanides into a C−O Bond of Acetals

The Brønsted acid catalyzed formal insertion of an isocyanide into a C-O bond of an acetal is described. A diverse array of acyclic and cyclic acetals can be applied to the catalytic insertion to form alpha-alkoxy imidates. Functional groups, such as nitro, cyano, halogen, ester, and alkoxy groups, are tolerant to the reaction conditions employed. The course of the reaction is highly dependent on the structure of the isocyanide. The use of an electron-deficient aryl isocyanide, such as 2c and 2d, is required to selectively obtain the monoinsertion product. When aryl isocyanides containing alkyl substituents, such as 2a and 2b, are employed, two molecules of the isocyanide are incorporated, and the double-insertion product is obtained. The reaction of tert-octyl isocyanide also induces a double incorporation, but the subsequent acid-mediated fragmentation leads to the 2-alkoxy imidoyl cyanide. The monoinsertion products, alpha-alkoxy imidates, can readily be hydrolyzed to alpha-alkoxy esters, realizing the formal carbonylation of an acetal.